Indian police have arrested a Nigerian woman alongside a taxi driver after allegedly recovering 3.6 kilogrammes of heroin during a special operation near the Goindwal bypass on the Amritsar-Bathinda highway in Tarn Taran.

According to a report by The Times of India on Sunday, the arrests were made during an intelligence-driven operation carried out by the CIA Staff in Tarn Taran following a tip-off.

Senior Superintendent of Police, Surender Lamba, said the operation was conducted under the supervision of Inspector Rupinderpal Singh.

Police reportedly intercepted a grey taxi near the Goindwal bypass and arrested the female suspect, identified simply as Bela, who authorities described as a native of Delta State, Nigeria, currently living in Delhi.

Also arrested was the taxi driver, Dalip Kumar, a resident of Noida in Uttar Pradesh.

During a search of the vehicle, officers allegedly recovered 3.6kg of heroin, a mobile phone, the taxi used in the operation, and Rs 1,500 suspected to be proceeds from drug-related activities.

Lamba alleged that the taxi driver assisted the Nigerian woman in transporting the illicit substance in exchange for financial rewards.

According to the police chief, preliminary investigations suggest that Bela may be linked to an international drug trafficking network allegedly connected to Pakistani smugglers.

He claimed the suspect coordinated heroin shipments smuggled across the India-Pakistan border for distribution in Punjab, Delhi, and other parts of India.

“A case has been registered against the accused under Section 21-C of the NDPS Act at City Tarn Taran police station,” Lamba stated.

The arrest adds to a growing number of drug-related cases involving Nigerian nationals in India in recent months.

In May 2026, another Nigerian, Tochukwu Afame, was arrested over allegations of trafficking cocaine hidden inside blood pressure machines. During the same month, two other Nigerians were reportedly arrested over alleged drug trafficking and immigration-related offences.

Similarly, in April 2026, Indian authorities arrested Samuel Ikkena in Bengaluru over an alleged drug operation involving MDMA, heroin, and cannabis, while another Nigerian, Jacob Nnabuike Ugwu, was arrested in Delhi over alleged MDMA trafficking.